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BULLETIN 


OP   THE 


HISTORICAL  SOCIETY  • 


OP 


PENNSYLVANIA 


YOL.  L] 


MARCH,  1845. 


[NO.  I. 


A    BRIEF    DESCRIPTION 

N  E  W   -T  O  R  K, 

FORMERLY     CALLED 

NEW  NETHERLANDS, 

WITH  THE  PLACES  THEREUNTO  ADJOINING, 
TOGETHER    WITH    THE 

MANNER      OF      ITS      SCITUATION,      FERTILITY    OF     THE      SOYL, 

HEALTHFULNESS    OF    THE    CLIMATE,    AND    THE 

COMMODITIES    THENCE    PRODUCED. 

ALSO, 

SOME  DIRECTIONS  AND  ADVICE  TO  SUCH  AS  SHALL  GO  THITHER: 

AN  ACCOUNT  OF  WHAT  COMMODITIES  THEY  SHALL 

TAKE  WITH  THEMI  THE  PROFIT  AND  PLEASURE 

THAT  MAY  ACCRUE  TO  THEM  THEREBY. 

LIKEWISE, 

A  BRIEF  RELATION  OF  THE  CUSTOMS  OF  THE  INDIANS  THERE. 
BY    DANIEL    DENTON. 

LONDON. 
167  0. 


I  1*1  I  ED  BY  JOHN  PENNINGTON    Membei  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Perm 'a, 
PRESS  OF  THE  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY  OF  PENNSYLVANIA. 

1845. 


To  THE 

READER 


!; 


Reader  : 

I  have  here  through  the  investigation  of  divers  persons  in  England  and 
elsewhere,  presented  you  with  a  brief  but  true  relation  of  a  known  and  un- 
known part  of  America.  The  known  part  which  is  either  inhabited  or  lieth 
near  the  Sea,  I  have  described  to  you,  and  have  writ  nothing  but  what  I  have 
been  an  eye-witness  to,  all,  or  the  greatest  part  of  it,  neither  can  I  safely 
say  was  I  willing  to  exceed  but  was  rather  willing  the  place  itself  should 
exceed  my  Commendation  which  I  question  but  will  be  owned  by  those  that 
shall  travel  thither.  For  the  unknown  part  which  is  either  some  places 
lying  to  the  Northward,  yet  undiscovered  by  any  English,  or  the  bowels  of 
the  Earth  not  yet  opened  though  the  natives  tell  us  of  Glittering  Stones, 
Diamonds  or  Pearl  in  the  one,  and  the  Dutch  hath  boasted  of  Gold  and  Silver 
in  the  other  yet  I  shall  not  feed  your  expectation  with  any  thing  of  that  na- 
ture but  leave  it  till  a  better  discovery  shall  make  way  for  such  a  relation. 
In  the  meantime  accept  of  this  from  him  who  desireth  to  deal  impartially 
with  every  one. 

Daniel  Denton. 


NOTE. — "  Daniel  Denton's  Brief  Description  of  New  York,  formerly  New  Netherlands," 
is  the  first  English  account  of  the  country  now  divided  into  New  York  and  New  Jersey,  and 
was  evidently  drawn  up  before  that  division  was  made,  or  at  least  promulgated. 

It  ie  one  of  the  rarest  items  in  the  Bibliotheca  Americana.  The  only  sale-catalogues  in 
which  it  has  appeared  are  Nassau's,  Warden's  and  Rich's,  and  as  these  three  are  of  different 
dates,  the  notices  of  Denton  occurring  in  them  may  all  refer  to  the  same  copy.  A  copy  is 
in  the  Library  of  Mr.  Aspinwall,  American  Consul  in  London,  and  in  that  of  the  Britisli 
Museum  ;  from  a  transcript  of  this  last,  the  edition  now  laid  before  the  public  has  been 
printed.  Meusel  (x.  367,)  gives  "  Denton's  description  of  New  York,  London,  1701,  4to," 
and  adds,  "  Liber  rarissimus  videtur,  de  quo  nullibi  quidquam,  prseter  banc  epigraphen 
mancam,  reperire  licet."  The  title  as  given  by  Meusel  appears  among  the  quellcn  of 
Eberling's  masterly  compends  of  the  histories  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey,  but  with  the  * 
prefixed,  indicating  that  the  author  had  never  seen  the  work  itself.  Hubbard  and  Neal  have 
had  access  to  it,  and  the  materials  of  the  article  New  York  in  the  America  of  "  John  Ogilby, 
Esq.,  his  Majesty's  Cosmographer,  Geographic  Printer  and  Master  of  the  Revels,"  are 
drawn  without  the  slightest  acknowledgment  from  Montanus  and  Denton. 

The  author  was  among  the  first  English  settlers  of  the  township  of  Jamaica  in  1650,  and 
appears  to  have  been  a  prominent  man  among  the  magnates  of  Long  Island.  In  the  spring 
of  1665  he  represented,  with  Thomas  Benedeict,  Jamaica  in  the  General  meeting  of  delegates 
from  the  towns  held  at  Hempstead,  on  which  occasion  was  formed  the  code  called  the 
"  Duke's  Laws,"  (Thompson's  Long  Island.)  In  1661,  Denton  was  associated  with  John 
Bailey  and  Luke  Watson  of  Long  Island,  in  the  purchase  from  the  Indians  of  nearly  500,000 
acres  of  land  in  the  present  counties  of  Middlesex,  Essex  and  Bergen,  New  Jersey,  Bt  Hie 
rate  of  about  half  a  mill  per  acre.  This  is  apparently  a  slight  consideration,  but  as  this 
tract  or  portions  of  it  had  been  sold  twice  before,  and  several  times  after  this  transaction, 
the  "  operation"  was  after  all  not  a  bad  one  for  "  the  poor  Indian."  Denton  soon  sold  his 
share  to  Capt.  John  Baker  of  New  York,  and  John  Ogden  of  Northampton,  and  it  is  believed, 
returned  to  England. 


A 

BRIEF   RELATION 

OP 

NEW    YORK, 

WITH    THE    PLACES    THEREUNTO    ADJOINING    FORMERLY   CALLED 

THE   NEW  NETHERLANDS,*  &c. 

That  Tract  of  Land  formerly  called  The  New  Netherlands,  doth 
contain  all  that  Land  which  lieth  in  the  North-parts  of  America 
betwixt  New-England  and  Mary-Land  |in  Virginia,  the  length 
of  which  Northward  to  the  Country,  as  it  hath  not  been  fully 
discovered,  so  it  is  not  certainly  known.  The  bredth  of  it  is 
about  two  hundred  miles :  The  principal  Rivers  within  this  tract, 
are  Hudson's  River,  Raritan  River  and  Delewer-bay  River.  The 
chief  Islands  are  the  Manahatan-IslRxid,  Long-Island  &  Staten- 
Island. 

And  first  to  begin  with  the  Manahatans  Island  so  called  by  the 
Indians,  it  lieth  within  land  betwixt  the  degress  of  41  and  42  of 
North  latitude,  and  is  about  14  miles  long  and  two  broad.  It  is 
bounded  with  Long  Island  on  the  South,  with  Staten-lsland  on 
the  West,  on  the  north  with  the  Main  Land :  and  with  Conecticut 
Colony  on  the  east  side  of  it,  only  a  part  of  the  Main  Land  be- 
longing to  New  York  Colony,  where  several  Towns  &  Villages 
are  setled,  being  about  thirty  miles  in  bredth,  doth  intercept^the 
Manahatans  Island  &  the  Colony  of  Conecticut  before  mentioned. 

New  York  is  settled  upon  the  West  end  of  the  aforesaid  Island, 
having  the  small  arm  of  the  sea,  which  divides  it  from  Long- 
Island  on  the  South  side  of  it,  which  runs  away  Eastward  to  New 
England,  &  is  navigable,  though  dangerous.  For  about  ten  miles 
from  New  York  is  a  place  catted  Hell-Gate,  which  being  a  narrow 
passage,  there  runneth  a  violent  stream  both  upon  flood  &  ebb, 
&  in  the  middle  lieth  some  Islands  of  Rocks,  which  the  Current 
sets  so  violently  upon,  that  it  threatens  present  Shipwrack,  & 
upon  the  flood  is  a  large   Whirlpool,  which  continually  sends 

*  Printed  from  a  copy  made  by  the  direction  of  Mr.  John  Pennington,  from  the  original  in 
the  British  MuseurrV  and  presented  by  him  to  the  Historical  Society. 


forth  a  hideous  roaring,  enough  to  affright  any  stranger  from 
passing  further,  &  to  wait  for  some  Charon  to  conduct  him 
through ;  yet  to  those  that  are  well  acquainted  little  or  no  danger ; 
yet  a  place  of  great  defence  against  an  enemy  coming  in  that 
way,  which  a  small  fortification  would  absolutely  prevent  &  ne- 
cesitate*  them  to  come  in  at  the  West  end  of  Low^-Island  by 
Sc.ndy  Hook  where  Nutten  Island  doth  force  them  within  Com- 
mand of  the  Fort  at  New  York  which  is  one  of  the  best  Pieces 
of  Defence  in  the  North-parts  of  America. 

New  York  is  built  most  of  brick  &  stone,  &  covered  with  red 
&  black  tile,  &  the  Land  being  high,  it  gives  it  at  a  distance  a 
pleasing  aspect  to  the  spectators.  The  inhabitants  consist  more 
of  English  &  Dutch  &  have  a  considerable  Trade  with  the  Indians 
for  Bevers,  Otter,  Raccoon  skins,  with  other  Furs  ;  as  also  for 
Bear,  Deer  &  Elk  skins  ;  &  are  supplied  with  Venison  &  Fowl 
in  the  winter  &  Fish  in  the  Summer  by  the  Indians — which  they 
buy  at  an  easie  rate  ;  and  having  the  Countrey  round  about  them 
they  are  continually  furnished  with  all  such  provisions  as  is  need- 
ful for  the  life  of  man,  not  only  by  the  English  &  Dutch  within 
their  own  but  likewise  by  the  adjacint  Colonies. 

The  Commodities  vented  from  thence  is  Furs  &  skins  before 
mentioned;  as  likewise  Tobacco  made  within  the  Colony  as  good 
as  is  usually  made  in  Mary-Land.  Also  Horses,  Beef,  Pork,  Oyl, 
Pease  wheat  &  the  like. 

Long -Island,  the  west  end  of  which  lies  South-ward  of  New- 
York,  runs  Eastward  above  one  hundred  miles,  &  it  is  in  some 
places  eight,  in  some  twelve,  in  some  fourteen  miles  broad  ;  it  is 
inhabited  from  one  end  to  the  other.  On  the  West  end  is  four  or 
five  Dutch  Towns,  the  rest  being  all  English  to  the  number  of 
twelve,  besides  villages  &  Farm  houses.  The  Island  is  most  of 
it  of  a  very  good  soyle  &  very  natural  for  all  sorts  of  English 
Grain ;  which  they  sowe  &  have  very  good  increase  of,  besides 
all  other  Fruits  &  Herbs  common  in  England,  as  also  Tobacco, 
Hemp,  Flax,  Pumpkies,  Melons,  &c. 

The  Fruits  natural  to  the  Island,  are  Mulberries,  Posimons, 
Grapes  great  &  small,  Iluckelberrics,  Cramberries  Plums  of  se- 
veral sorts,  Rosberries  &  Strawberries,  of  which  last  is  such  abund- 
ance in  June  that  the  Fields  &  Woods  arc  died  red  :  Which  the 
Countrey-people  perceiving  instantly  arm  themselves  with  bottles 
of  Wine,  Cream  &  sugar,  &  in  stead  of  a  Coat  of  Male  every  one 
takes  a  Female  upon  his  horse  behind  him,&  so  rushing  violently 


into  the  fields,  never  leave  till  they  have  disrob'd  them  of  their 
red  colours  &  turned  them  into  the  old  habit. 

The  greatest  part  of  the  Island  is  very  full  of  Timber,  as  Oaks 
white  &  red,  Walnut-trees,  Chesnut  trees,  which  yield  store  of 
mast  for  swine,  &  are  often  therewith  sufficiently  fatted  with  Oak- 
Corn  :  as  also  Maples,  Cedars,  Saxifrage,  Beach,  Birch,  Holly, 
Hazel,  with  many  sorts  more. 

The  Herbs  which  the  Countrey  naturally  afford,  are  Purzlain, 
white  Orage,Egrimony,  Violets,  Penneroyal,  Alicampane,  besides 
Saxaparilla  very  common,  with  many  more.  Yea,  in  May  you 
shall  see  the  Woods  &  Fields  so  curiously  bedecke  with  Roses, 
&  an  innumerable  multitude  of  delightful  flowers,  not  only  plea- 
sing the  eye,  but  smell,  that  you  may  behold  nature  contending 
with  Art,  &  striving  to  equal,  if  not  excel  many  Gardens  in  Eng- 
land: nay,  did  we  know  the  vertue  of  all  those  Plants  &  Herbs 
growing  there  (which  time  may  more  discover)  many  are  of  opi- 
nion &  the  natives  do  affirm,  that  there  is  no  disease  common  to 
the  Countrey,  but  may  be  cured  without  materials  from  other 
Nations. 

There  is  several  Navigable  Rivers  &  Bays  which  puts  into  the 
Arori?A-side  of  Long-Island,  but  upon  the  South-Side  which  joyns 
to  the  Sea,  it  is  so  fortified  with  bars  of  sands  &  sholes  that  it  is  a 
sufficient  defence  against  any  enemy,  yet  the  South-side  is  not 
without  Brooks  &  Riverets  which  empty  themselves  into  the  Sea, 
yea  you  shall  scarce  travel  a  mile  but  you  shall  meet  with  one  of 
them,  whose  Christal  streams  run  so  swift,  that  they  purge  them- 
selves of  such  stinking  mud  &  filth,  which  the  standing  or  low- 
paced  streams  of  most  brooks  &  rivers  westward  of  this  Colony 
leave  lying,  &  are  by  the  Suns  exhalation  dissipated,  the  air  cor- 
rupted, &  many  Fevers  &  other  distempers  occasioned,  not  inci- 
dent to  this  Colony:  Neither  do  the  Brooks  &  Riverets  premised, 
give  way  to  the  Frost  in  Winter,  or  draught  in  Summer,but  keep 
their  course  throughout  the  year. 

These  rivers  are  very  well  furnished  with  Fish,  as  Bosse, 
Sheeps-heads,  Place,  Pearch,  Trouts,  Eels,  Turttles,  &  divers 
others. 

The  Island  is  plentifully  stored  with  all  sorts  of  English  Cattel, 
Horses,  Hogs,  Sheep,  Goats,  &c.  No  place  in  the  North  of 
America  better,  which  they  can  both  raise  &  maintain  by  reason 
of  the  large  &  spacious  medows  or  marches  wherewith  it  is  fur- 


6 

nished,  the  Island  likewise  producing  excellent  English  grass,  the 
seeds  of  which  was  brought  out  of  England,  which  they  some- 
times mow  twice  a  year. 

For  wilde  Beasts  there  is  Deer,  Bear,  Wolves,  Foxes,  Racoons, 
Otters,  Musquashes  &  Skunks.  Wild  Fowl  there  is  great  store 
of,  as  Turkies,  Heath-Hens,  Quailes,  Partridges,  Pidgeons,Cranes, 
Geese  of  several  sorts,  Brants,  Ducks,  Widgeons,  Teal,  &  divers 
others :  There  is  also  the  Red-Bird,  with  divers  sorts  of  singing  birds, 
whose  chirping  notes  salute  the  ears  of  Travellers  with  an  har- 
monious discord.  And  in  every  pond  &  brook  green  silken  Frogs, 
who  warbling  forth  their  untuned  tunes  strive  to  bear  a  part  in 
this  musick. 

Towards  the  middle  of  Long-Island  lyeth  a  plain  sixteen  miles 
long  &  four  broad  upon  which  plain  grows  very  fine  grass  that 
makes  exceeding  good  hay  &  is  very  good  pasture  for  Sheep  or 
other  Cattel :  where  you  shall  find  neither  stick  nor  stone  to  hinder 
the  horse  heels  or  endanger  them  in  their  Races,  &  once  a  year 
the  best  horses  in  the  Island  are  brought  hither  to  try  their  swift- 
ness^ the  swiftest  rewarded  with  a  silver  cup,  two  being annualy 
procured  for  that  purpose.  There  are  two  or  three  other  small 
plains  of  about  a  mile  square  which  are  no  small  benefit  to  those 
Towns  which  enjoy  them. 

Upon  the  South  side  of  Xow^-Island  in  the  winter,  lie  store 
Whales  &  Grampasses,  which  the  Inhabitants  begin  with  small 
boats  to  make  a  trade  Catching  to  them  no  small  benefit.  Also 
an  innumerable  multitude  of  Seals,  which  make  an  excellent  oyle : 
they  lie  all  the  Winter  upon  some  broken  Marshes  &  Beaches, 
or  bars  of  sand  before-mentioned  ,  &  might  be  easily  got  were  there 
some  skillful  men  could  undertake  it. 

To  say  something  of  the  Indians,  there  is  now  but  few  upon 
the  Island  &  those  few  now  ways  hurtful  but  rather  serviceable 
to  the  English,  &  it  is  to  be  admired  how  strangely  they  have  de- 
creast  by  the  Hand  of  God  since  the  English  first  settling  of  these 
parts ;  for  since  my  time,  when  there  were  six  towns,  they  are 
reduced  to  two  small  villages,  &  it  has  been  generally  observed 
that  where  the  English  come  to  settle,  a  Divine  Hand  makes  way 
for  them,  by  removing  or  cutting  off  the  Indians,  either  by  wars 
one  with  the  other,  or  by  some  raging  mortal  disease. 

They  live  principally  by  Hunting,  Fowling  &  Fishing  :  their 
Wives  being  the  Husbandmen  to  till  the  Land,  &  plant  their 
corn. 


The  meat  they  live  most  upon  is  Fish,  Fowl,  &  Venison  ;  they 
eat  likewise  Polecats,  Skunks,  Racoon,  Possum,  Turttles,  &  the 
like. 

They  build  small  moveable  Tents,  which  they  remove  two  or 
three  times  a  year,  having  their  principal  quarters  where  they 
plant  their  corn  :  their  Hunting  quarters,  &  their  Fishing  quar- 
ters :  Their  recreations  are  chiefly  Foot-ball  &  Cards,  at  which 
they  will  play  away  all  they  have  excepting  a  flap  to  cover  their 
nakedness  :  They  are  great  lovers  of  strong  drink,  yet  do  not  care 
for  drinking,  unless  they  have  enough  to  make  themselves  drunk: 
&  if  there  be  so  many  in  their  Company,  that  there  is  not  suffi- 
cient to  make  them  all  drunk,  they  usually  select  so  many  out  of 
their  Company  proportionable  to  the  quantity  of  drink,  &  the  rest 
must  be  spectators.  And  if  any  one  chance  to  be  drunk  before 
he  hath  finisht  his  proportion  (which  is  ordinarily  a  quart  of 
Brandy,  Rum  or  Strong-waters)  the  rest  will  pour  the  rest  of  his 
part  down  his  throat. 

They  often  kill  one  another  at  these  drunken  matches  which 
the  friends  of  the  murdered  person  do  revenge  upon  the  murderer 
unless  he  purchase  his  life  with  money,  which  they  sometimes 
do  :  This  money  is  made  of  a  Periwinkle  shell  of  which  there  is 
black  &  white,  made  much  like  unto  beads  &  put  upon  strings. 

For  their  worship  which  is  diabolical,  it  is  performed  usually 
but  once  or  twice  a  year,  unless  upon  some  extraordinary  occa- 
sion, as  upon  making  of  war  or  the  like;  their  usual  time  is  about 
Michaelmass,  when  their  corn  is  first  ripe,  the  day  being  appointed 
by  their  chief  Priest  or  pawaw,  most  of  them  go  a  hunting  for 
venison:  When  they  are  ail  congregated,  their  priest  tells  them 
if  he  want  money,  their  God  will  accept  of  no  other  offering, 
which  the  people  believing,  every  one  gives  money  according  to 
their  ability.  The  priest  takes  the  money,  &  putting  it  into  some 
dishes  sets  them  upon  the  top  of  their  low  flat-roofed  houses,  & 
falls  to  invocating  their  God  to  come  &  receive  it,  which  with 
many  loud  hallows  &  outcries,  knocking  the  ground  with  sticks, 
&  beating  themselves,  is  performed  by  the  priests,  &  seconded  by 
the  people. 

After  they  have  thus  awhile  wearied  themselves  the  priest  & 
his  Conspiration  brings  in  a  devil  amongst  them,  in  the  shape 
sometimes  of  a  fowl,  sometimes  of  a  beast,  &  sometimes  of  a  man, 
at  which  the  people  being  amazed,  not  daring  to  stir,  he  improves 


8 

the  opportunity,  steps  out,  &  makes  sure  of  the  money,  &  then 
returns  to  lay  the  spirit,  who  in  the  mean  time  is  sometimes 
gone,  &  takes  some  of  the  Company  along  with  him  :  but  if  any 
Euglish  at  such  times  do  come  amongst  them,  it  puts  a  period  to 
their  proceeding,  &  they  will  desire  their  absence,  telling  them 
their  God  will  not  come  whilst  they  are  there. 

In  their  wars  they  fight  no  pitcht  fields ;  but  when  they  have 
notice  of  an  enemies  approach,  they  endeavour  to  secure  there 
wives  &  children  upon  some  Island,  or  in  some  thick  swamp,  & 
then  with  their  guns  &  hatchet  they  way-lay  their  enemies,  some 
lying  behind  one,  some  another  &  it  is  a  great  fight  where  seven 
or  eight  is  slain. 

When  any  Indian  dies  amongst  them,  they  bury  him  upright, 
sitting  upon  a  seat,  with  his  Gun,  money,  &  such  goods  as  he 
hath  with  him,  that  he  may  be  furnished  in  the  other  world, 
which  they  conceive  is  Westward,  where  they  shall  have  great 
store  of  Game  for  Hunting,  &  live  easie  lives.  At  his  Burial  his 
nearest  relations  attend  the  Hearse  with  their  faces  painted  black, 
&  do  visit  the  grave  once  or  twice  a  day,  where  they  send  forth 
sad  lamentations  so  long  till  time  hath  wore  the  blackness  off  their 
faces,  &  afterwards  every  year  once  they  view  the  grave,  make  a 
new  mourning  for  him,  trimming  up  of  the  Grave,  not  suffering  of 
a  Grass  to  grow  by  it :  they  fence  their  graves  with  a  hedge,  & 
cover  the  tops  with  mats,  to  shelter  them  from  the  rain. 

Any  Indian  being  dead,  his  name  dies  with  him,  no  person 
daring  ever  after  to  mention  his  name,  it  being  not  only  a  breach 
of  their  Law,  but  an  abuse  to  his  friends  &  relations  present,  as 
if  it  were  done  on  purpose  to  renew  their  grief:  And  any  other 
person  whatsoever  that  is  named  after  that  name  doth  incontinently 
change  his  name  &  takes  a  new  one,  their  names  are  not  proper 
set  names  as  amongst  Christians,  but  every  one  invents  a  name 
to  himself,  which  he  likes  best.  Some  calling  themselves  Rattle- 
snake,  Skunk,  Bucks-horn,  or  the  like  :  And  if  a  person  die,  that 
his  name  is  some  word  which  is  used  in  speech,  they  likewise 
change  that  word,  &  invent  some  new  one  which  makes  a  great 
change  &  alteration  in  their  language. 

When  any  person  is  sick,  after  the  means  used  by  his  friends, 
every  one  pretending  skill  in  Physick,  that  proving  ineffectual 
they  send  lor  a  Pawaw  or  Priest,  who  Bitting  down  by  the  sick 
person  without  the  least  enquiry  after  the  distemper,  waits  for  a 


gift  which  he  proportions  his  work  accordingly  to:  that  being 
received,  he  first  begins  with  a  low  voice  to  call  upon  his  God, 
calling  sometimes  upon  one  sometimes  on  another,  raising  his 
voice  higher  &  higher,  beating  of  his  naked  breasts  &  sides,  till 
the  sweat  runneth  down,  &  his  breath  is  almost  gone,  then  that 
little  which  is  remaining,  he  evaporates  upon  the  face  of  the  sick 
person  three  or  four  times  together  &  so  takes  his  leave. 

Their  marriages  are  performed  without  any  ceremony,  the 
match  being  first  made  by  money.  The  sum  being  agreed  upon 
&  given  to  the  woman  it  makes  a  consummation  of  their  marriage, 
if  I  may  so  call  it :  After  that  he  keeps  her  during  his  pleasure, 
&  upon  the  least  dislike  turns  her  away  &  takes  another  :  It  is  no 
offence  for  their  married  women  to  lie  with  another  man  provided 
she  acquaint  her  husband,  or  some  of  her  nearest  Relations  with 
it,  but  if  not  it  is  accounted  such  a  fault  that  they  sometimes 
punish  it  with  death :  An  Indian  may  have  two  wives  or  more  if 
he  please,  but  it  is  not  so  much  in  use  as  it  was  since  the  English 
came  amongst  them  they  being  ready  in  some  measure  to  imitate 
the  English  in  things  both  good  &  bad :  Any  maid  before  she  is 
married  doth  lie  with  whom  she  please  for  money  without  any 
scandal,  or  the  least  aspersion  to  be  cast  upon  her  it  being  so  cus- 
tomary, &  their  laws  tolerating  of  it.  They  are  extraordinary 
charitable  one  to  another,  one  having  nothing  to  spare,  but  he 
freely  imparts  it  to  his  friends  &  whatsoever  they  get  by  gaming 
or  any  other  way,  they  share  one  to  another  leaving  themselves 
commonly  the  least  share. 

At  their  Canticas  or  dancing  matches,  where  all  persons  that 
come  are  freely  entertained,  it  being  a  Festival  time :  Their  cus- 
tom is  when  they  dance,  every  one  but  the  Dancers  to  have  a 
short  stick  in  their  hands  &  to  knock  the  ground  &  sing  alto- 
gether, whilst  they  that  dance  sometimes  act  war-like  postures, 
&  then  they  come  in  painted  for  War  with  their  faces  black  & 
red,  or  some  all  black,  some  all  red,  with  some  streaks  of  white 
under  their  eyes,  &  so  jump  &  leap  up  &  down  without  any 
order,  uttering  many  expressions  of  their  intended  valour.  For 
other  dances  they  only  shew  what  Antick  tricks  their  ignorance 
will  lead  them  to,  swinging  of  their  bodies  &  faces  after  a  strange 
manner,  sometimes  jumping  into  the  fire,  sometimes  catching  up 
a  Firebrand,  &  biting  off  a  live  coal,  with  many  such  tricks,  that 
will  affright,  if  not  please  an  English  man  to  look  upon  them, 

2 


10 

resembling  rather  a  company  of  infernal  furies  than  men.  When 
their  King  or  Sachem  sits  in  Council  he  hath  a  company  of  armed 
men  to  guard  his  person,  great  respect  being  shewn  him  by  the 
People,  which  is  principally  manifested  by  their  silence  :  After 
he  hath  declared  the  cause  of  their  convention  he  demands  their 
opinion,  ordering  who  shall  begin  :  The  person  ordered  to  speak, 
after  he  hath  declared  his  minde  tells  them  he  hath  done :  no 
man  ever  interrupting  any  person  in  his  speech,  nor  offering  to 
speak  though  he  make  never  so  many  or  long  stops,  till  he  says 
he  hath  no  more  to  say  :  the  Council  having  all  declared  their 
opinions,  the  King  after  some  pause  gives  the  definitive  sentence, 
which  is  commonly  seconded  with  a  shout  from  the  people,  every 
one  seeming  to  applaud  &  manifest  their  assent  to  what  is  deter- 
mined :  If  any  person  be  condemned  to  die,  which  is  seldom,  un- 
less for  Murder  or  Incest,  the  King  himself  goes  in  person 
(for  you  must  understand  they  have  no  prisons,  <§*  the  guilty  per- 
son flies  into  the  Woods,)  when  they  go  in  quest  of  him,  & 
having  found  him,  the  King  shoots  first,  though  at  never  such  a 
distance,  &  then  happy  is  the  man  can  shoot  him  down,  &  cut  off 
his  which  they  commonly  wear,  who  for  his  pains  is  made 
some  Captain  or  other  military  officer. 

Their  C loathing  is  a  yard  and  a  half  of  broad  Cloth,  which  is 
made  for  the  Indian  Trade,  which  they  hang  upon  their  should- 
ers; &  half  a  yard  of  the  same  cloth,  which  being  put  betwixt 
their  legs,  &  brought  up  before  &  behind  &  tied  with  a  Girdle 
about  their  middle,  hangs  with  a  flap  on  each  side  :  They  wear 
no  Hats,  but  commonly  wear  about  their  Heads  a  Snake's  skin, 
or  a  belt  of  their  money,  or  a  kind  of  a  Ruff  made  with  Deer's 
hair  &  died  of  a  scarlet  colour,  which  they  esteem  very  rich. 

They  grease  their  bodies  &  hair  very  often,  &  paint  their  faces 
with  several  colours  as  black,  white,  red,  yellow,  blew,  &c, 
which  they  take  great  pride  in,  every  one  being  painted  in  a 
several  manner:  Thus  much  for  the  Customs  of  the  Indians. 

Within  two  leagues  of  New  York  lieth  Statcn  Island,  it  bears 
from  New  York  West  something  southerly.  It  is  about  twenty 
miles  long,  6c  four  or  five  broad,  it  is  most  of  it  very  good  land, 
full  of  Timber  and  produceth  all  such  commodities  as  Long 
Island  doth,  besides  Tin  6c  store  of  Iron  oar,  &  the  Calamine 
stone  is  said  likewise  to  be  found  there  :  There  is  but  one  Town 
upon  it  consisting  of  English  6c  French,  but  it  is  capable  of  en- 


11 

tertaining  more  inhabitants  :  betwixt  this  &  Long  Island  is  a  large 
Bay,  &  is  the  coming  in  for  all  ships  and  vessels  out  of  the  Sea: 
On  the  North  side  of  this  Island  After- Skull  River  pubs  into  the 
Main  Land  on  the  West  side,  whereoff  is  two  or  three  Towns, 
but  on  the  East-side  but  one.  There  is  very  great  Marshes  or 
Meadows  on  both  sides  of  it,  excellent  good  land,  &  good  con- 
venience for  the  setting  of  several  towns;  there  grows  black 
Walnut  &  Locust  as  there  doth  in  Virginia  with  mighty  tall 
streight  Timber,  as  good  as  any  in  the  North  of  America:  It 
produceth  any  Commoditie  Long  Island  doth. 

Hudsons  River  runs  by  New-York  northward  into  the  Coun- 
trey,  toward  the  Head  of  which  is  seated  New-Albany,  a  place 
of  great  Trade  with  the  Indians,  betwixt  which  &  New  York, 
being  above  one  hundred  miles,  is  as  good  Corn-land  as  the 
world  affords,  enough  to  entertain  hundreds  of  Families,  which 
in  the  time  of  the  Dutch  Government  of  those  parts  could  not  be 
setled :  For  the  Indians,  excepting  one  place  called  the  Sopers 
which  was  kept  by  a  Garrison,  but  since  the  reducement  of  those 
parts  under  his  Majesties  obedience,  &  a  patent  granted  to  his 
Royal  Highness  the  Duke  of  York  which  is  about  six  years  since 
by  the  care  of  diligence  of  the  Honorable  Coll.  Nicholls  sent 
thither  Deputy  to  His  Highness  (we  have)  a  League  of  Peace 
was  made  &  Friendship  concluded  betwixt  that  Colony  &  the 
Indians  that  they  have  not  resisted  or  disturbed  any  Christians 
there,  in  the  setling  or  peaceable  possessing  of  any  Lands  with 
that  Government,  but  every  man  hath  sate  under  his  own  Vine 
&  hath  peaceably  reapt  &  enjoyed  the  fruits  of  their  own 
labours,  which  God  continue. 

Westward  of  Aftcr-Kull  River  before  mentioned  about  18  or 
20  miles  runs  in  Raritan  River  Northward  in  the  Countrey,  some 
score  of  miles,  both  sides  of  which  River  is  adorn'd  with  spacious 
Medows,  enough  to  maintain  thousands  of  Cattel,  the  Wood- 
land is  likewise  very  good  for  Corn  &  stor'd  with  wilde  Beasts,  as 
Deer  &  Elks,  &  an  inumerable  multitude  of  Fowl,  as  in  other 
parts  of  the  Countrey:  This  River  is  thought  very  capable  for 
the  erecting  of  several  Towns  &  Villages  on  each  side  of  it,  no 
place  in  the  North  of  America  having  better  convenience  for  the 
maintaining  of  all  sorts  of  Cattel  for  winter  &  summer  food : 
upon  this  River  is  no  town  setled,  but  one  at  the  mouth  of  it. 
Next  this  River  Westward  is  a  place  called  Newasons,  where  is 


12 

two  or  three  Towns  &  Villages  setled  upon  the  Sea-side,  but  none 
betwixt  that  &  Delewer  Bay,  which  is  about  sixty  miles,  all 
which  is  a  rich  Champain  Countrey,  free  from  stones,  &  indiffer- 
ent level;  store  of  excellent  good  timber,  &  very  well  watered, 
having  brooks  or  rivers  ordinarily,  one  or  more  in  every  miles 
travel.  The  Countrey  is  full  of  Deer,  Elks,  Bear,  &  other  Crea- 
tures, as  in  other  parts  of  the  Countrey,  where  you  shall  meet 
with  no  inhabitant  in  this  journey,  but  a  few  Indians,  where  there 
is  stately  Oaks  whose  broad-branched-tops  serve  for  no  other  use 
but  to  keep  off  the  Suns  heat  from  the  wilde  Beasts  of  the  Wil- 
derness where  is  grass  as  high  as  a  man's  middle  that  serves  for 
no  other  end  except  to  maintain  the  Elks  &  Deer,  who  never  de- 
vour a  hundreth  part  of  it,  then  to  be  burnt  every  Spring  to  make 
way  for  new.  How  many  poor  people  in  the  world  would  think 
themselves  happy,  had  they  an  Acre  or  two  of  land,  whilst  here 
is  hundreds,  nay  thousands  of  Acres,  that  would  invite  inhabit- 
ants. 

Delewer  bay  the  mouth  of  the  River,  lyeth  about  the  Mid-way 
betwixt  New-  York  &  the  Capes  of  Virginia.  It  is  a  very  plea- 
sant river  &  Countrey,  but  very  few  inhabitants,  &  them  being 
mostly  Swedes,  Dutch  &  Finns;  about  sixty  miles  up  the  River  is 
the  principal  Town  called  Neiv-Castle,  which  is  about  forty  miles 
from  Mary-land,  &  very  good  way  to  travel,  either  with  horse  or 
foot,  the  people  are  setled  all  along  the  West  side  sixty  miles 
above  New-Castle  ;  the  land  is  good  for  all  sorts  of  English  grain, 
&  wanteth  nothing  but  a  good  people  to  populate  it,  it  being  ca- 
pable of  entertaining  many  hundred  families. 

Some  may  admire,  that  these  great  &  rich  Tracts  of  land, 
lying  so  adjoyning  to  New- England  &  Virginia,  should  be  no 
better  inhabited,  &  that  the  richness  of  the  soyl,  the  healthfulness 
of  the  Climate  &  the  like,  should  be  no  better  a  motive  to  induce 
people  from  both  places  to  populate  it. 

To  which  I  answer,  that  whilst  it  was  under  the  Dutch  Govern- 
ment, which  hath  been  till  within  these  six  years,  there  was  little 
encouragement  for  any  English,  both  in  respect  of  their  safety 
from  the  Indians,  the  Dutch  being  almost  always  in  danger  of 
them;  &  their  Bcver-trade  not  admitting  of  a  War,  which  would 
have  been  destructive  to  their  trade,  which  was  the  main  thing 
prosecuted  by  the  Dutch.  And  secondly  the  Dutch  gave  such 
bad  Titles  to  Lands,  together  with  their  exacting  of  the  Tenths 


13 

of  all  which  men  produced  off  their  Land,  that  did  much  hinder 
the  popularity  of  it,  together  with  that  general  dislike  the  English 
have  of  living  under  another  Government ;  but  since  the  reduce- 
ment  of  it  there  is  several  Towns  of  a  considerable  greatness 
begun  &  setled  by  people  out  of  New-England,  &  every  day 
more  &  more  come  to  view  &  setle. 

To  give  some  satisfaction  to  people  that  shall  be  desirous  to 
transport  themselves  thither,  (the  Countrey  being  capable  of  en- 
tertaining many  thousands)  how  &  after  what  manner  people 
live,  &,  how  land  may  be  procured,  &c.  I  shall  answer,  that  the 
usual  way  is  for  a  Company  of  people  to  joyn  together  either 
enough  to  make  a  Town,  or  a  lesser  number;  These  go  with  the 
consent  of  the  Governor  to  view  a  Tract  of  Land,  there  being 
choice  enough,  &  finding  a  place  convenient  for  a  town,  they  re- 
turn to  the  Governor,  who  upon  their  desire  admits  them  into  the 
Colony,  &  gives  them  a  Grant  or  Patent  for  the  said  Land,  for 
themselves  &  associates.  Those  persons  being  thus  qualified, 
setle  the  place,  &  take  in  what  inhabitants  to  themselves  they 
shall  see  cause  to  admit  of  till  their  Town  be  full;  these  asso- 
ciates thus  taken  in  have  equal  priviledges  with  themselves,  & 
they  make  a  division  of  the  Land  suitable  to  every  man's  occa- 
sions, no  man  being  debarr'd  of  such  quantities  as  he  hath  occa- 
sion for,  the  rest  they  let  lie  in  Common  till  they  have  occasion 
for  a  new  division,  never  dividing  their  Pasture-land  at  all,  which 
lies  in  common  to  the  whole  Town.  The  best  Commodities  for 
any  to  carry  with  them  is  Clothing,  the  Countrey  being  full  of 
all  sorts  of  Cattel,  which  they  may  furnish  themselves  withal  at 
an  easie  rate,  for  any  sorts  of  English  Goods,  as  likewise  Instru- 
ments for  Husbandry  &  Building,  with  nails,  Hinges,  Glass  & 
the  like  ;  For  the  manner  how  they  get  a  livelihood,  it  is  princi- 
pally by  Corn  &  Cattel,  which  will  there  fetch  them  any  Com- 
modities; likewise  they  sowe  store  of  Flax  which  they  make 
every  one  Cloth  of  for  their  own  wearing,  as  also  woollen  Cloth, 
&  Linsey-Woolsey,  &  had  they  more  Tradesmen  amongst  them, 
they  would  in  a  little  time  live  without  the  help  of  any  other 
Countrey  for  their  Clothing  :  For  Tradesmen  there  is  none  but 
live  happily  there,  as  Carpenters,  Blacksmiths,  Masons,  Tailors, 
Weavers,  Shoemakers,  Tanners,  Blacksmiths,  &  so  any  other 
Trade ;  them  that  have  no  Trade  betake  themselves  to  Hus- 
bandry, get  land  of  their  own,  &  live  exceeding  well. 


14 

Thus  have  I  briefly  given  you  a  relation  of  New-  York  with 
the  places  thereunto  adjoyning;  In  which,  if  I  have  err'd,  it  is 
principally  in  not  giving  it  its  due  commendation,  for  besides 
those  earthly  blessings  when  it  is  stor'd,  Heaven  hath  not  been 
wanting   to    open   his   Treasure,   in   sending    down   seasonable 
showres  upon  the  Earth,  blessing  it  with  a  sweet  &  pleasant  air, 
&  a  continuation  of  such  Influences  as  tend  to  the  Health  both 
of  Man  &  Beast.     And  the  Climate  hath  such  an  affinity  with 
that  of  England,  that  it  breeds  ordinarily  no  alteration  to  those 
which  remove  thither ;  that  the  name  of  seasoning  which  is  com- 
mon to  some  other  Countreys  hath  never  there  been   known ; 
That  I  may  say  &  say  truly  that  if  there  be  any  terrestrial  hap- 
piness to  be  had  by  people  of  all  ranks,  especially  of  an  inferior 
rank,  it  must  certainly  be  here  :  here  any  one  may  furnish  him- 
self with  land,  &  live  rent-free,  yea,  with  such  a  quantity  of 
land,  that  he  may  weary  himself  in  the  walking  over  his  fields 
of  Corn,  &  all  sorts  of  Grain :  &  let  his  stock  of  Cattel  amount 
to  some  hundreds,  he  needs  not  fear  their  want  of  pasture  in  the 
Summer  or  Fodder  in  the  Winter,  the  Woods  affording  sufficient 
supply.     For  the  Summer-season,  when  you  have  grass  as  high 
as  a  man's  knees,  nay,  as  high  as  his  waste,  interlaced  with  Pea- 
vines  &  other  weeds  that  Cattel  much  delight  in,  as  much  as  a 
man  can  press  thorough :  And  these  woods  also  every  mile  or 
half-mile  are  furnished  with  fresh  ponds,  brooks,  or  rivers,  where 
all  sorts  of  Cattel,  during  the  heat  of  the  day,  do  quench  their 
thirst  &  cool  themselves ;  these  brooks  &  rivers  being  environed 
of  each  side  with  several   sorts   of   trees   &  Grape-vines,  the 
Vines,  arbor-like,  interchanging  places  &  crossing  these  rivers 
doth  shelter  from  the  scorching  beams  of  Sols  fiery  influence  : 
Here  those  which  Fortune   hath  frown'd  upon  in  England,  to 
deny  them  an  inheritance  amongst  their  Brethren,  or  such  as  by 
their  utmost  labors  can  scarcely  procure  a  living,  I  say  such  may 
procure  here  inheritance  of  lands  &  possessions,  stock  themselves 
with  all  sorts  of  Cattel,  enjoy  the  benefit  of  them  whilst  they 
live,  &  leave  them  to  the  benefit  of  their  children  when  they  die : 
here  you  need  not  trouble  the  Shambles  for  meats  nor  Bakers  nor 
Brewers  for  Beer  &  Bread,  nor  run  to  a  Linnen-Draper  for  a 
supply,  every  one  making  their  own  Linnen,  &  a  great  part  of 
their  woollen-cloth  for  their  ordinary  wearing  :    And  how   prodi- 
gal, if  I  may  so  say,  hath  Nature  been  to  furnish  the  Countrey 


15 

in  the  all  sorts  of  wilde  Beasts  &  Fowle  which  every  one  hath 
an  interest  in  &  may  hunt  at  his  pleasure  ;  where  besides  the 
pleasure  in  Hunting,  he  may  furnish  his  house  with  excellent  fat 
Venison,  Turkies,  Geese,  Heath-Hens,  Cranes,  Swans,  Ducks, 
Pidgeons  &  the  like :  &  wearied  with  that,  he  may  go  a  Fishing, 
where  the  Rivers  are  so  furnished,  that  he  may  supply  himself 
with  Fish  before  he  can  leave  off  the  Recreation:  Where  you 
may  travel  by  land  upon  the  same  Continent  hundreds  of  miles, 
&  passe  through  Towns  &  Villages,  &  never  hear  the  least  Com- 
plaint for  want,  nor  hear  any  ask  you  for  a  farthing :  then  you 
may  lodge  in  the  fields  &  woods,  travel  from  one  end  of  the 
Countrey  to  another,  with  as  much  security  as  if  you  were  lockt 
within  your  own  Chamber;  and  if  you  chance  to  meet  with  an 
Indian-Town,  they  shall  give  you  the  best  entertainment  they 
have,  &  upon  your  desire,  direct  you  in  your  way :  But  that 
which  adds  happiness  to  all  the  rest  is  the  Healthfulness  of  the 
place  where  many  people  in  twenty  years  time  never  know  what 
sickness  is  :  where  they  look  upon  it  as  a  great  mortality  if  two 
or  three  die  of  a  towne  in  a  years  time  ;  where  besides  the  sweet- 
ness of  the  Air,  the  Countrey  itself  sends  forth  such  a  fragrant 
smell,  that  it  may  be  perceived  at  Sea  before  they  can  make  the 
Land ;  where  no  Air-fog  or  vapour  doth  no  sooner  appear,  but  a 
North-west  or  Westerly  winde  doth  immediately  dessolve  it,  & 
drive  it  away  :  What  shall  I  say  more  ?  you  shall  scarce  see  a 
house,  but  the  South-side  is  begirt  with  Hives  of  Bees,  which  in- 
crease after  an  incredible  manner  :  That  I  must  needs  say,  that 
if  there  be  any  terrestrial  Caimans  'tis  surely  here,  where  all  the 
Land  floweth  with  milk  &  Honey.  The  inhabitants  are  blest 
with  Peace  &  plenty,  blessed  in  their  Countrey,  blessed  in  their 
Fields,  blessed  in  the  Fruit  of  their  bodies,  in  the  fruit  of  their 
grounds,  in  the  increase  of  their  Cattel,  Horses  &  Sheep,  blessed 
in  their  Basket  &  in  their  store  ;  In  a  word,  blessed  in  whatso- 
ever they  take  in  hand  or  go  about,  the  Earth  yielding  plentiful 
increase  to  all  their  painful  labours. 

Were  it  not  to  avoid  prolixity  I  could  say  a  great  deal  more, 
&  yet  say  too  little,  how  free  are  those  parts  of  the  world  from 
that  pride  &  oppression,  with  their  miserable  effects,  which  many, 
nay  almost  all  parts  of  the  world  are  troubled,  with  being  igno- 
rant of  that  pomp  &  bravery  which  aspiring  Humours  are  ser- 
vants to,  &  striving  after  almost  every  where:  Where  a  Waggon 


16 

or  Cart  gives  as  good  content  as  a  Coach ;  and  a  piece  of  their 
home-made  Cloth,  better  than  the  finest  Lawns  or  richest  Silks : 
&  though  their  low-roofed  houses  may  seem  to  shut  their  doors 
against  pride  &  luxury,  yet  how  do  they  stand  wide  open  to  let 
charity  in  &  out  either  to  assist  each  other,  or  relieve  a  stranger, 
&  the  distance  of  place  from  other  Nations,  doth  secure  them 
from  the  envious  frowns  of  ill-affected  Neighbours,  &  the  trou- 
bles which  usually  arise  thence. 

Now  to  conclude,  its  possible  some  may  say,  what  needs  a  Re- 
lation of  a  place  of  so  long  standing  as  New- York  hath  been  ?  In 
answer  to  which  I  have  said  something  before,  as  to  satisfie  the 
desires  of  many  that  never  had  any  Relation  of  it.  Secondly, 
though  it  hath  been  long  settled  yet  but  lately  reduced  to  his  Ma- 
jesties obedience,  &  by  that  means  but  new  or  unknown  to  the 
English :  Else  certainly  those  great  number  of  Furs,  that  have 
been  lately  transported  from  thence  in  Holland  had  never  passed 
the  hands  of  our  English  Furriers :  Thirdly,  never  any  relation 
before  was  published  to  my  knowledge  &  the  place  being  capa- 
ble of  entertaining  so  great  a  number  of  inhabitants,  where  they 
may  with  Gods  blessing,  &  their  own  industry,  live  as  happily 
as  any  people  in  the  world.  A  true  Relation  was  necessary,  not 
only  for  the  encouragement  of  many  that  have  a  desire  to  remove 
themselves,  but  for  the  satisfaction  of  others  that  would  make  a 
trade  thither. 


FINIS. 


The  Accurate  Accomptant  or  London  Merchant,  Containing  an 
Analysis  for  Instructions  6$  Directions  for  a  Methodical  Keeping 
Merchants  Accompts,  by  way  of  Debtor  <^  Creditor  very  useful 
for  all  Merchants  or  others  that  desire  to  learn  or  teach  the  Exact 
Methods  of  Keeping  Merchants  Accompt,  by  Thomas  Brown 
Accomptant ;  To  be  sold  by  John  Hancoch  at  the  first  shop  in 
Popes  Head  Alley  at  the  sign  of  the  Three  Bibles  in  Cornhill, 
1670. 


2Gffi 


